Corn tortillas are a staple for Mexican dishes, and whether you choose flour or corn tortilla, it’s not really an authentic Latin meal without them. Corn tortillas, made from ground-up corn, are only the size of a taco shell, because if they were any bigger, they would fall apart. This is one of the reasons they are not popular as taco shells. Since they are made from corn, this would make them vegan, right?
Corn tortillas are vegan. Whether store bought or freshly made, the ingredients are simple and contain no animal products. Corn tortillas are made from masa, or masa harina, a flour made from hominy. Additional ingredients typically include preservatives and emulsifiers. The best healthier vegan alternatives to traditional corn tortillas include Siete Almond Tortillas and Mikey’s Grain Free Tortillas.
In this article, we’ll take a look at how tortillas are made by large manufacturers, as well as see how small businesses are providing better tortillas which taste great and contain quality ingredients. Let’s get started!
How corn tortillas are made
Corn tortillas are traditionally made using nixtamalization. During this process, dried corn kernels are cooked and then soaked in an alkaline solution, which is commonly made from water and calcium hydroxide, or food-grade lime. This alkaline solution removes the indigestible part of the corn kernel and makes calcium and Vitamin B3 available. Then, the maize is drained and rinsed so the outer kernel cover, known as the pericarp, comes off. The maize is then milled to make it into a dough, which then becomes the base for making tortillas.
For commercially manufactured corn tortillas, after the corn is harvested and removed from the cob, one truck will bring millions of these kernels to the factory. They are put into big, steel cooking vats and are immersed in water. They are then steamed with powdered limestone, which helps the pericarp loosened. The corn soaks for 8 hours. Once the pericarp is removed, the corn is then grinded, and water and preservatives are added. This is then made into a corn mash, which is then sent through an extruder, and made into masa.
The corn dough is then made into a sheet where it is then cut into paper-thin round tortilla shapes. This process makes 84,000 tortillas per hour. The tortillas are then cooked, gradually baking each one in just 21 seconds. Then the tortillas are cooled and ready for packaging.
Here are some of the more commercially produced brands of corn tortillas.
Mission Foods
Founded in 1949 in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, GRUMA, wanted to provide the Mexican people with main staple in their diets, the tortilla. In 1977, GRUMA bought the old Mission Tortilla factory in Los Angeles. Since then, the Mission company has added more factories across the U.S., and started offering a healthier Better-For-You line in 2004, to include low-carb alternatives. In 2018, they opened a new plant in Dallas, Texas which can produce 30 million tortillas a day!
White Corn Tortillas
Ingredients:
- Corn Masa Flour
- Water
- Contains 2% or Less of:
- Cellulose Gum
- Guar Gum
- Amylase
- Propionic Acid
- Benzoic Acid
- Phosphoric Acid (to Maintain Freshness)
Nutrition Facts (for 2 tortillas / 47 grams serving):
- 100 – Calories
- 1.5 g – Total Fat
- 0 g – Saturated Fat
- 0 g – Trans Fat
- 0 mg – Cholesterol
- 10 mg – Sodium
- 20 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 3 g – Dietary Fiber
- 2 g – Sugars
- 2 g – Protein
Additional vitamins & minerals:
- 2% DV – Calcium
- 4% DV – Iron
El Milagro
El Milagro was started by a small-family in the 1950s in Chicago, Illinois. They make their tortillas the authentic way, and do not use pre-processed corn in the making of their tortillas. They use only whole kernel corn, which is selected and then ground in their own plant. They do not add preservatives to their tortillas, and they use 100% natural GMO-free corn.
Classic Corn Maiz Natural Soft Tortillas
Ingredients:
- Corn
- Water and Lime (Calcium Hydroxide)
Nutrition Facts (for 2 tortillas / 47 grams serving):
- 100 – Calories
- 1.5 g – Total Fat
- 0 g – Saturated Fat
- 0 g – Trans Fat
- 0 mg – Cholesterol
- 10 mg – Sodium
- 21 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 2 g – Dietary Fiber
- 0 g – Sugars
- 3 g – Protein
Additional vitamins & minerals:
- 15% DV – Calcium
- 6% DV – Iron
- 2% DV – Potassium
Ole Mexican Foods
Veronica Moreno started selling homemade tortillas in Atlanta, Georgia in 1988. She used the techniques and ingredients which were passed down to her through family recipes. Their tortillas are made with quality ingredients, and their products are certified as kosher.
La Banderita White Corn Tortillas
Ingredients:
- Whole grain corn
- Water
- Contains 2% or less of the following:
- Preservatives (Propionic acid, Sodium hydroxide, Benzoic acid)
- Xanthan gum
- and traces of food grade lime
Nutrition Facts (for 2 tortillas / 47 grams serving):
- 100 – Calories
- 1 g – Total Fat
- 0 g – Saturated Fat
- 0 g – Trans Fat
- 0 mg – Cholesterol
- 15 mg – Sodium
- 19 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 1 g – Dietary Fiber
- 1 g – Sugars
- 2 g – Protein
Additional vitamins & minerals:
- 2% DV – Calcium
- 2% DV – Potassium
Alternatives to Corn Tortillas
Siete Foods
Siete Foods was started by a young woman who wanted to make grain-free Mexican foods, due to her own struggles with autoimmune conditions. Their tortillas are grain, dairy, gluten, and soy free. They are also vegan and Non-GMO.
Siete Almond Tortillas
Ingredients:
- Almond Flour
- Tapioca Flour
- Water
- Sea Salt
- Xanthan gum
Nutrition Facts (for 2 tortillas / 50 grams serving):
- 190 – Calories
- 11 g – Total Fat
- 1 g – Saturated Fat
- 0 g – Trans Fat
- 0 mg – Cholesterol
- 220 mg – Sodium
- 20 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 3 g – Dietary Fiber
- 1 g – Sugars
- 6 g – Protein
Additional vitamins & minerals:
- 60 mg – Calcium
- 0.8 mg – Iron
- 180 mg – Potassium
Mikey’s
Mikey’s was founded by a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, and a head chef. Mikey started with creating an English muffin from just 8 ingredients! His company has expanded and grown since then, creating products which are allergen-free and made with only quality ingredients.
Grain Free Tortillas
Ingredients:
- Water
- Cassava flour
- Coconut flour
- Sunflower oil
- Apple cider vinegar
- Sea salt
Nutrition Facts (for 2 tortillas / 50 grams serving):
- 120 – Calories
- 3 g – Total Fat
- 1 g – Saturated Fat
- 0 g – Trans Fat
- 0 mg – Cholesterol
- 50 mg – Sodium
- 210 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 3 g – Dietary Fiber
- 1 g – Sugars
- 1 g – Protein
Additional vitamins & minerals:
- 2% DV – Calcium
- 10% DV – Iron
- 4% DV – Potassium
Tia Lupita Foods
Tia Lupita Foods creates grain-free tortillas which are made from Prickly Pear Cactus and Cassava! Gluten-free, Non-GMO, keto, and low carb, these delicious tortillas are vegan-friendly.
Grain Free Tortillas
Ingredients:
- Water
- Blend of Cassava, Okra, and Nopal (cactus) flours
- Avocado Oil
- Lime Juice
- Tapioca Fiber
- Sea Salt
Nutrition Facts (for 1 tortillas / 25 grams serving):
- 45 – Calories
- 1.5 g – Total Fat
- 0 g – Saturated Fat
- 0 g – Trans Fat
- 0 mg – Cholesterol
- 100 mg – Sodium
- 80 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 2 g – Dietary Fiber
- 0 g – Sugars
- 1 g – Protein
Additional vitamins & minerals:
- 2% DV – Calcium
Maria & Ricardo’s
Maria and Ricardo, two cousins who moved to Boston from Mexico, found that tortillas there were made with preservatives, would crumble while eating, and tasted sour. They decided to start their own small business, providing tortillas that were vegan, dairy and egg free, and have no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
Soft Yellow Corn Tortillas
Ingredients:
- Whole Grain Yellow Corn Flour (Ground Whole Grain Yellow Corn Masa Flour, trace of lime)
- Water
- Wheat Gluten
- Cultured Wheat Flour added with Vinegar
- Contains 2% or less of the following:
- Soy Lecithin
- Wheat Fiber
- Acacia Gum
- Sodium Alginate
- Guar Gum
- Salt
- Citric Acid
Nutrition Facts (for 1 tortillas / 41 grams serving):
- 90 – Calories
- 1 g – Total Fat
- 0 g – Saturated Fat
- 0 g – Trans Fat
- 0 mg – Cholesterol
- 90 mg – Sodium
- 16 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 1 g – Dietary Fiber
- 0 g – Sugars
- 5 g – Protein
Additional vitamins & minerals:
- 4% DV – Calcium
- 2% DV – Potassium
Final Thoughts
Corn tortillas are a vegan-friendly food. There are many commercially processed brands available which meet the vegan standards. There are also alternative brands, made with grain-free ingredients, plant-based, and provide a higher nutrition value. Try these brands and see how you like your tacos now!
Related Questions
Are corn tortillas gluten-free?
Corn tortillas do not contain any gluten-containing ingredients (with the exception of Maria & Ricardo’s brand) making them a gluten-free food, and thus acceptable for those who cannot tolerate gluten in their diet.
Are corn tortillas keto-friendly?
This is an iffy question. Corn tortillas are not high in carbs, and they are certainly lower in carbs than flour tortillas, their carb content is still higher when compared to other foods. Also, the carbs are “empty”, meaning they do not provide many minerals and vitamins.
Are corn tortillas healthier than flour tortillas?
Corn tortillas are made from whole grains, have fewer calories, sodium, and carbs, and contain more fiber than flour tortillas. This makes them healthier than flour tortillas. If you’re looking for an even healthier version of corn tortillas, try those made from blue corn.